First time chameleon owner

[Chastitybailey]

I purchased a chameleon for my son Saturday night10/20. He’s in a screened cage, I have a Pothos, Ficus and a Schefflera, vines to climb, both lights recommenced, I shut the lights off at night, we feed her”I believe it’s a girl” crickets dusting with calcium and 1x with vitamins. She’s eating around 20-30 crickets a day. Her humidity is at 53 and basking temp at 90. She’s also pooped and pee’d each day.

My couple questions is
1. She’s eating the Pothos plant and I want to verify that’s safe?
2. She looks very dull/dry and has cracks-I’m worried if she’s ok and what else I can do for her.
3. She’s very thin, to where you can see her ribs. I don’t believe Petsmart was feeding her enough and clearly the enclosure she was in wasn’t for her”it was glass” I will take any recommendations and advice. Thank you

 

[timw1]

Hi, and welcome to the forum! Please review the caresheet (click link in my signature) for your species. Some eat plants and pothos is not poisonous. Your cham's skin looking dry and cracking is an indication of her beginning a shed.

 

[Chastitybailey]

Ok, great! Thank you

 

[timw1]

You are welcome! Don't hesitate to ask questions, there are very knowledgeable people on this forum who will be glad to help.

 

[ERKleRose]

What type of chameleon do you have? If you could fill out this form and post it here, please, it will make sure that your husbandry is at its best! https://www.chameleonforums.com/how-ask-help-66/ Welcome to the forums!

 

[Chastitybailey]

I’m sorry-I do have another question...will Spike eat if she’s not hungry? She ate over 30 crickets yesterday and has almost ate that many today. I don’t know if that’s ok since she’s malnourished from being at Petsmart. Thanks again, Chastity

 

[ERKleRose]

I’m sorry-I do have another question...will Spike eat if she’s not hungry? She ate over 30 crickets yesterday and has almost ate that many today. I don’t know if that’s ok since she’s malnourished from being at Petsmart. Thanks again, Chastity

Let her eat! What type of chameleon do you have? If you could fill out this form https://www.chameleonforums.com/how-ask-help-66/ and post a pic of her enclosure as well, that’s be great!

 

[Chastitybailey]

Veiled
Female
? For age”would love help to find out”
Purchased on 10/20
My son holds her once a day and she seems to enjoy it!
We feed her small crickets at least morning and night but we’ve been feeding her even during the day-she comes to the door looking.
The crickets eat Flukers orange cube, we’ve dusted them 3x with repti calcium and 1x with Rep-Cal Herptivite with Beta Carotene.
We wet all the plants and vines with a heavy duty water bottle 3-6x a day and we’ve seen her drink.
She poops and urinates 1x a day brownish black poop and a small white I believe is urine.

She is very thin

 

[ERKleRose]

Veiled
Female
? For age”would love help to find out”
Purchased on 10/20
My son holds her once a day and she seems to enjoy it!
We feed her small crickets at least morning and night but we’ve been feeding her even during the day-she comes to the door looking.
The crickets eat Flukers orange cube, we’ve dusted them 3x with repti calcium and 1x with Rep-Cal Herptivite with Beta Carotene.
We wet all the plants and vines with a heavy duty water bottle 3-6x a day and we’ve seen her drink.
She poops and urinates 1x a day brownish black poop and a small white I believe is urine.

She is very thin

Not good with ages, but looks at least 4 months old (don’t take it to the bank, though). How does she seem to enjoy being held? The Fluker’s gutload is horrible, try organic fresh fruits and veggies (you can feed them in that state or blend them together and put it in/mix in an unflavored gelatin) or water gel/cotton balls soaked in water/gutload paste (instructions on bag/jar) and a different commercial gutload, like Mazuri, Pangea, Cricket Crack, Repashy, etc. It should be phosphorous-free calcium without D3 dusted on feeders at every feeding, phosphorous-free calcium with D3 twice monthly, and a multivitamin twice monthly. How long do you mist for? It should be for at least 2 minutes. The white lumps are urates (her pee). I would suggest to start looking into lay bins and read the veiled care sheet here.

 

[ERKleRose]

Filling in that form will help organize your info better. When you get the money, invest in a t5HO linear uvb bulb and fixture and an automated misting system. What are her temps (ambient and basking) and humidity levels?

 

[ERKleRose]

Veiled
Female
? For age”would love help to find out”
Purchased on 10/20
My son holds her once a day and she seems to enjoy it!
We feed her small crickets at least morning and night but we’ve been feeding her even during the day-she comes to the door looking.
The crickets eat Flukers orange cube, we’ve dusted them 3x with repti calcium and 1x with Rep-Cal Herptivite with Beta Carotene.
We wet all the plants and vines with a heavy duty water bottle 3-6x a day and we’ve seen her drink.
She poops and urinates 1x a day brownish black poop and a small white I believe is urine.

She is very thin

Add some more vines and branches, mostly horizontal, throughout her enclosure

 

[Jesspete]

Anyone else seeing a tarsal spur? Can you take a pic of the back of the rear foot?

 

[Chastitybailey]

Thank you for all those things to switch. I will get it done! I didn’t realize there was a difference in brands and all, thank you.
90 degree basking
72 temp at the bottom
56 humidity
We don’t most for 2 minutes but I will make sure we start too.
Can you tell for sure Spike is a girl by the picture? I will lookup the laying basket-how often will she lay eggs?

 

[Jesspete]

I think it might be a boy, but we need to see a clear picture of the back of the feet. If there is a little nub, it's a boy.

 

[Chastitybailey]

Will do with the branches-I thought the same thing

 

[Chastitybailey]

Did I take a good enough picture? I’m sorry I’m really am new to all this.

 

[Chastitybailey]

Does she/he look dry to you?

 

[Jesspete]

spur equals boy

 

[Jesspete]

Will do with the branches-I thought the same thing

Really need to see the back side of that foot.

(s)he looks like she might be ready to shed.

 

[Chastitybailey]

I think it’s a boy and if so my son is going to be SO happy